Acetylene



13 1927. Sept L. w. STETTNER ACETYLENE GErmRATOR` Filed Nov. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l Figi.

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Sept. *13, 1927.

1,642,467 L. W. STETTNER ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Nov. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

LDWIG W. STETTNER, OLEFOAKLAND,I CALIFORNIA.

l ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

Appncation'niea November as, i925. seriaim. 71,902.

My invention has for its object an acety- `lene generator adapted toV employ carbide and control the mixing thereof with water to' secure the chemical reaction from which is 5 developed acetylene and to control the chemical action so as to secure a relatively constant rate of acetylene generation corresponding with any fixed rate of discharge and to vary the rate of acetylene generation l to compensate for variations in demand, and

thus to4 maintain a relatively constant pressure of acetylene in the said generator and delivery pipes therefrom.

A further object of my invention is a de- 16 vice of the character described wherein the several operations necessary in charging and operating are performed with the greatest safetyand reliability. l

Another object is special improvements in `20 those portions of the generator apparatus adapted to automatically feed the carbide `to met the demands for gasl generation. Other objects will appearfrom the drawings and specifications which follow. 25 1 Referring to the drawings:`

. Fig. 1 is a prospective side view of the generator of my invention. y

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross `section throughcertain parts of the upper portion 30 ofthe `generator of Fig. 1, to better show the carbide feeding mechanism.` i `Fig isl ay fragmentary plan view of the top of the generator of Fig. 2.` y

Fig. Ltis a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic view showing certain of the op eratingparts of ig. 1, showing particular y f the interfering device to prevent improper operation. y y y .Figa 5` illustrates `a pressure diaphragm actuated by the pressure ofacetylene generated tocontrol the motor. y y

.p Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are details of the carbide `feeding mechanism, whereby theV carbide is fed from the table member into the water at a `rate 4proportional to the requirements, Fig.` 6 being a plan 1view,"Fig. 7a side elevation, Fig. 8 a lplanviewwith thecarbide .distributing mechanism in place .under the table and Figs. 9 and 10end views showing the `operation of the carbide fingers.

Fig. 11l is a detailed showing of the starting, stopping and controlling connections between `the diaphragm lof Fig. and the motor Bof Fig..1.

..55 Throughout the figures similarinumerals,

refer to identical parts.

A generator casing is shown by the niimeral 1 closed on the top and bottom and provided with a residuum drain valve 2, a

`clock work motor 3, actuated by a weightl, a driving shaft 96, actuated by the said clock motor, a carbide hopper 6, a ller cap 7, by which carbide is introduced into the hopper, a carbide feeding table 8, fingers 45, and 46 are actuated from the drive shaft 96, a condensationshield 9, adapted to keep any condensed moisture clear of the feeding table, so that the carbide thereon is kept relatively dry, a carbide guard ring which serves as ascreen to prevent or permit the "discharge `of carbide from the table 8, a

water filler 11, communicating with the inter'ior of the casing 1, through the watercock 12 and pipe 13, an overflow cock 14 adapted to limit the Water level at 15 in the casing 1, an overflow outlet 16, an overflow plug at 17, a chamber atlS to preventl flashback, a pressure gauge at 19 to indicate the preslsure existing at all times within the casing '1, a safety valve at 20, with a blow-off lever controlled valveat 21, anda similar safety valve and blow-off lever valve at 22 and 23v of the movementV of thehandle 25, a stirring `member 39, `a guard ring operating lever at Sion the worm shaft32 adapted to actuate thel carbide guard ring 10 and when the 4ring isin the up position the lever 31 covers the cap 7 to prevent fillinguntil the ring has been depressed by` swinging the lever 31 from the full line to the dotted position of Fig. 3, in which position it locks the motor 3.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and l1-the lever `25 is fixed to the stem 26 andis provided `with an arcuate slot 7 5 in which engages the pin 7 6 carried on the yoke 77. This yoke`7 7 is fixed with the secondary stem which is adapted to actuate the drain valve2;

Upon the first movement of the lever y25 from theposition of Figs. 1 and' outward, the stem 26 is actuated shifting the link 29 and opening to the atmosphere the valves 21 and 23, and shifting the cap shield` 28 clear of thecap 7 and causingthe arm 27 4to engage and lock the motor 8 by any conventional means. well-known but not specifically shown. The =further movement of the lever causes the arcuate slot 75 to pick up the pin 76 swinging the yoke 77 and opening overflow valve Y14 and freeing the discharge valve 2. On reversing the movement of lever 25, the valve 2 is first closed. after which the other reverse movements take place in the reverse order, the valves 21 and 23V beingthe last to be closed.

A maingas discharge is shown at 82 under the control of the-service 4cock 24 and fromy which the acetylene generated is delivered, control connections at 33 and 34 are adapted to start, stop and control the rate of movement of the said motor and connected at their lower end with a diaphragm device actuated by pressure from the casing 1, whereby an increase of pressure in the said casing retards the motor and a decrease of pressure in the said casing allows the motorto speed up under the actuation of the weight 4. This is accomplished by any well known mechanism.

The diaphragm is indicated at 86, Fig. 5.

Referring to. Fig. 2, the carbide is held in hopper6 which has been fitted through filler cap 7. The guard ring 10 is under the control of the shaft 32 the rotation of which is adapted toY raise and lower the said ring through the action of a worm member 70, and arms A71, 71. A plurality of these worms and arms may be employed to better support and operatethe said ring being interconnected for joint operation, such construction is conventional forming no part of my invention and is not shown lin detail, it being understood that any conventional raising and lowering means may be employed to actuate said ring from the movement of the external lever` 31.4

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 to 10, the table 8 is a rigidl member on which the carbide charge normally rests, being fred down thereon so as to continually maintain the table charged from the hopper 6.

The rotating stem 96 passes down through the stationary tube 78 and cone member 40 and table 8 'and rotates, the erm 41 from the Clock, 0,1 motor mechanism at 3 et a fat@ of speed controlled from the diaphragm device above mentioned and as shown in detail vin Fig. 5, through the conventional connec` tions 33 and 34.

Upstanding from the arm member 4l are the pivoted pedestals 42 and 43 and through the upper portion of these pedestals is rotatably swivelled the members 44 and 65 having linger extensions 45 and 46 respectivelyv which extend from below and over the top of the table, 8 and during the rotation of the shaft 96 are forcedD to travel around the table with the finger extensions engaging and raking off ofthe table the carbide to be fed intothe Water in container 1 in proportion to the demand for acetylene gas to be generated.

These swivelled finger members, as the arm 41 rotates, engage on their inner ends the depending pins as 47 and 48 and are thereby tripped and the members 42 and 43 are thereby forced to pivot on the arm 41. l The fingers 45 and 46 are therefore caused to follow the dotted paths 49 and 50 respectively on the table 8 (seeFig. 6).,

After the arms 44 and 65l ride clear of the pins 47 and 48 the weights 59 and 59 dropping from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 10 cause the members 44 and to swing Vthe fingers 45 and 46 towards the center of thetable.

This movement is occasioned through the Weight 5,9 pivoted at 51 and carrying theA U member 52 through which are arm projects, to actuate the arm from the position ofv Fig. 9. to the position of Fig. 10, swinging the fingers 45 and 46 from the position in F 6 as shown by the dotted paths 60 and 61 respectively towards the center and jarring or shaking loose thc carbide if it is packed and prevent-ing any bridging of the carbide as well as engaging masses ofcarbide which are thereby raked off of the table 8 duringthe further movement- On the topv of the pedestals 42 and 43, I

provide rollers 62 and 63 to better maintain the alignment of the. arm 41 and spacing of the finger members 45 and46 over the table 8.

The operation is as follows:

The operating stem 26 is rotated by pulling outward the handle 25 and opening the valves 2,2 and 23 to the atmosphere.

The water cock 12 is now opened by pulling its lever forward.

The rotation of the stem 26 has shifted the cap shield 28 away from the filler cap 7. The lever 31 is now rotated also uncovering the cap 7 and its movement continued into the locking position shown by dottedy linesI in Fig. 3.` This movement has rotated the worm shaft 32 and dropped the carbide guard ring 10 substantially to the feeding table 8.

The charge of Ycarbide is now .introduced into the carbide hopper 6, the cap closed and water is introduced into the filler cup 11 until it overflows at the outlet 16, having passed through the overflow cock 14.

` The lever of the water cock 12 and the lever 25. of the operating stem 26 are actuated, the blow-off or safety valves 2O and 22 are now open, the lever 31 restored to its full line position of Fig. 3 raising the carbide guard ring 10 so that the carbide is now ready to be fed from the table `8 into the water in the lower part of the casing 1.

The motor lock arm 27 'has been swung out by the movement of the stem 26 and the motorrmechanism is started whereupon the feeding mechanism (see Figs. 7 and 10 inn Utl elusive) is now set into movement and the lingers rake carbide from the table 8 which, falling into the water, generates acetylene gas which, collecting in the upper part of the casing, establishes a pressure under the diaphragm 36 of Fig. 5 until the diaphragm has raised a sulicient amount to retard or stop the motor 3 or untilthe acetylene is withdrawn from the discharge pipe 82. After all the air is blown out of the container 1, the valves 2l and 23 are closed by a final movement of lever to the full line positions of Figs. 1 and 3. This blowing out of the air is accomplished by the acetylene being generated in the container l, the air is now discharged through the pipe 97, which is tapped into the highest point of the container l and passes out through the safety valve 22, because of the cock 23 being open.

Any reduction in the gas pressure results in a dropping of the diaphragm of Fig. 5 and an acceleration of the feeding mechanism While any increase in pressure acts conversely resulting in a retarding in the feeding mechanism whereby the carbide feeds from the table 8 into the Water and therefore the rate of acetylene generation is retained directly proportional to the requirements of gas consumption from the discharge to the tube 32.

I claim:

l. In an acetylene generator having therein a Water compartment and thereover a carbide hopper, a xed table spaced under said hopper adapted to support carbide, an arm rotatable under said table, iinger means carried by said arm and project-ing over said table constructed and adapted to progresively rake the carbide from the table to fall into the Water as the arm rotates and including a linger adapted to engage por-A tions of the carbide and a stem carrying said finger and swivelled to said arm and restoring means engaging said stem to force the linger to engage the carbide.

2. In an acetylene generator having therein a Water compartment and thereover a carbide hopper'J a 'fixed table spaced under said hopper adapted to support carbide, an arm rotatable under said table, linger means carried by said arm and projecting over said table constructed and adapted to progressively rake the carbide from the table to fall into the Water as the arm rotates and including a finger adapted to engage porr LUDWIG W. STETTNEB. 

